Area(s) of study

Urcuqui, Ecuador

Introduction

The "From the Amazon to the Galapagos" program at Universidad Yachay Tech is uniquely designed for students studying biology and geology, with hands-on teaching integrated with scientific research and cultural engagement. The program is taught on the university's Andes campus, and includes extensive research in the rainforests of Ecuador, the high Andean páramo ecosystem, the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands. On this program, you will experience:

Ecuadorian culture and the warmth of its people.

Three weeks in the Amazon with local communities, learning about their lifestyle, culture and challenges.

Three weeks of hands-on research on the Galapagos Islands of Santa Cruz and San Cristobal.

Spanish language course

You have the option to participate in a three-week intensive Spanish language program in Cuenca, Ecuador, before the regular semester starts.

Note: This course is required if you have beginner-level Spanish proficiency. If you have successfully completed SPAN 2160, you are not required to participate in the intensive Spanish language program.

Academic credit

For each semester of academic work completed abroad, you may earn 12 to 15 credit hours. Course credit transfers to MU, but your grades will not appear on your MU transcript and are not figured into your GPA. Although you are guaranteed to receive credit for successfully completed courses, you must work with your academic adviser(s) to obtain pre-approval for how the courses you take might fulfill specific degree requirements.

Location

Yachay Tech is located in the Andean highlands of Ecuador, approximately three hours north of Quito. The campus is about two kilometers from the small, peaceful town of Urcuqui and is surrounded by largely agricultural terrain, with a strong local indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian culture.

Fun fact: "Yachay" is a Quechua word that means knowledge.

Costs

Program budget

Additional expenses

In addition to the program costs paid to MU, you will have expenses associated with international travel and living abroad. The amounts listed are estimated costs based on current exchange rates and on the information provided to us by your host institution and past participants. Depending on your personal spending habits, you may spend more or less than the figures provided.

Please note that these expenses do not include vacation travel or sightseeing.

Financial aid information

If you are awarded financial aid for study abroad, it will be applied to your MU account according to the regular financial aid disbursement schedule. Reminder: You must be enrolled in study abroad and have completed the required financial aid forms for study abroad in order to be considered for aid.

Because non-resident tuition charges apply, MU students should be eligible to use non-resident scholarships toward program costs.

Dates and deadlines

Term

Application deadline

Program start

Program end

Spring 2019

09/30/2018

02/04/2019

05/20/2019

Fall 2019

02/22/2019

Spring 2020

09/20/2019

02/03/2020

05/18/2020

Fall 2020

02/15/2020

Application

We are delighted that you are applying to study abroad. This is the first step of your journey, and while there is a lot to do, it should not be overwhelming. Once you start an application for the program, you will have an electronic checklist to help you through the process. In addition, our study abroad staff are available to answer your questions.

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